A Ruined Mansion In Mordent
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:54 pm
The pale light of the sun filtered through the sparse clouds above. Even though the light seemed as hollow as the ruined mansion behind him, it was a welcome relief to Nathaniel Hawke and his party. What had started off as trying to rid an area of false ghost hunters had turned into something far worse.
Shortly after fleeing the burning manor and retrieving his horse from the stables, he had turned his mount in the direction of Mordent. There he had spent a great deal of time (and money) in trying to discover information that would help set his feet on the path of paying off Buchvold. The wizard hadn't actually given him any information that he hadn't already gleaned from the twins or anyone else he had spoken to. He had gained nothing, but given the wizard a dupe to send off after magical trinkets. His own obsession had overruled common logic. A logic that he had relied upon to keep his feet on the proper path. He felt no longer like his own man, but more like a puppet having his strings manipulated from hundreds of miles away. Then one night as he sat pouring over some old tomes, he overheard a tale that piqued his interest: an old mansion sat abandoned, and apparently someone or something was taking up residence there. But stranger still were the reports of lights, moans, and shrieks that emanated from within the once proud building. And so it was that he gathered up his companions and set off at once for this manor.
When they had arrived, they found traces of people who had camped inside the manor and then carefully tried to conceal the fact that anyone had even been there. As Nathan and his party left to get a few supplies from the nearby settlement, they felt pretty sure that they were facing a mortal adversary; one of flesh and blood. Yet as they spoke with the townsfolk about the manor and its dark past, a brief shadow of doubt passed before them. While the party wizard had done his part in explaining away a great deal of the sightings, (ghost sound, dancing lights, etc.) a few things that the locals said just didn't quite add up. And yet, the party made their way in to the ruined manor...
As the clouds parted and the sunlight gained strength in the sky, Nathan turned to help his friends load up their gear on their horses. His hand paused over an old scabbard and longsword that had been taken from the bowels of the manor. The wizard had told him that it did indeed possess some form of magical property, but just what type would take time and study. And so it was that they began to head back to town to rest up and give the wizard the time that he needed to investigate the mysteries of the blade.
The road stretched before them, and evening was beginning to fall as they turned their horses back in the direction of the small town.
Shortly after fleeing the burning manor and retrieving his horse from the stables, he had turned his mount in the direction of Mordent. There he had spent a great deal of time (and money) in trying to discover information that would help set his feet on the path of paying off Buchvold. The wizard hadn't actually given him any information that he hadn't already gleaned from the twins or anyone else he had spoken to. He had gained nothing, but given the wizard a dupe to send off after magical trinkets. His own obsession had overruled common logic. A logic that he had relied upon to keep his feet on the proper path. He felt no longer like his own man, but more like a puppet having his strings manipulated from hundreds of miles away. Then one night as he sat pouring over some old tomes, he overheard a tale that piqued his interest: an old mansion sat abandoned, and apparently someone or something was taking up residence there. But stranger still were the reports of lights, moans, and shrieks that emanated from within the once proud building. And so it was that he gathered up his companions and set off at once for this manor.
When they had arrived, they found traces of people who had camped inside the manor and then carefully tried to conceal the fact that anyone had even been there. As Nathan and his party left to get a few supplies from the nearby settlement, they felt pretty sure that they were facing a mortal adversary; one of flesh and blood. Yet as they spoke with the townsfolk about the manor and its dark past, a brief shadow of doubt passed before them. While the party wizard had done his part in explaining away a great deal of the sightings, (ghost sound, dancing lights, etc.) a few things that the locals said just didn't quite add up. And yet, the party made their way in to the ruined manor...
As the clouds parted and the sunlight gained strength in the sky, Nathan turned to help his friends load up their gear on their horses. His hand paused over an old scabbard and longsword that had been taken from the bowels of the manor. The wizard had told him that it did indeed possess some form of magical property, but just what type would take time and study. And so it was that they began to head back to town to rest up and give the wizard the time that he needed to investigate the mysteries of the blade.
The road stretched before them, and evening was beginning to fall as they turned their horses back in the direction of the small town.